FAQ: What is a Countywide RMO?

Updated May 2020 If you work in a county government, you might have heard us use the phrase countywide RMO. Today’s topic is about who the countywide records management officer (RMO) is and what they do. The commissioners court designates an individual to serve as the countywide RMO. That person then serves as the RMO for…

FAQ: Do I have to keep copies of records I produced to fulfill a public information request?

Recently TSLAC has received a flurry of questions from state agencies and local governments about retaining records related to public information requests. Some people have asked if the government must make extra copies of the requested records and retain the extra copies with the correspondence and documentation that initiates, processes, and responds to the request. The answer is…

FAQ: Why Use a Disposition Log?

Texas law authorizes state agencies and local governments in compliance to disposition a record under two conditions: (1) the record belongs to a record series on an approved records retention schedule and (2) its retention period has expired (Government Code §441.187; Local Government Records Act §202.001). As part of disposition, all Texas governments must use…

Body Camera Videos for Local Governments 101

Updated March 3, 2022   Senate Bill 158 (S.B. 158) took effect on September 1st of this year. This law amends Chapter 1701, subchapter N of the Occupations Code and authorizes Texas law enforcement agencies to apply for grants to help cover the costs of implementing a body camera program. Additionally, the law addresses some retention…